WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) released the below statement upon the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announcing more than $3 billion in aid for agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters from 2018 and 2019, including Hurricane Michael, as well as blueberry and peach growers that were impacted by Tropical Storm Cindy’s extreme cold. Signup for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) program will begin September 11, 2019.

“In October, Hurricane Michael ripped through South and Middle Georgia leaving billions of dollars in agricultural damages in its wake. As our state’s oldest and largest industry, it is vital our farmers have the resources they need to recover from this storm. That’s why Rep. Sanford Bishop and I fought for months for $3 billion in aid for agricultural producers in Georgia and across the country to help put the pieces back together again,” said Rep. Scott. “The sign up period for this aid begins September 11, and I would encourage farmers impacted by Hurricane Michael to sign up as soon as possible.”

WHIP+ will be available for eligible producers who have suffered eligible losses of certain crops, trees, bushes or vines in counties with a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration or a Secretarial Disaster Designation. Disaster losses must have been a result of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, typhoons, volcanic activity, snowstorms or wildfires that occurred in 2018 or 2019. Also, producers in counties that did not received a disaster declaration or designation may still apply for WHIP+ but must provide supporting documentation to establish that the crops were directly affected by a qualifying disaster loss. 

All WHIP+ eligible counties can be found by clicking here.

More information on WHIP+ can be found at https://www.farmers.gov/recover/whip-plus.

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